The cathedral in Córdoba was built in the center of the city's mosque, the mosque being so big - the largest in the world - that even with a cathedral in the middle of it, the mosque still surrounds the entire church. The cathedral, while lovely, is overshadowed by the brilliant architecture and size of the mosque. This picture is of one of the main dome of the cathedral portion of the building.

When the Christians took over Córdoba, they did not destroy the mosque, unusual at the time. Instead, they began modifying small portions of it to create a church. This was one of the early domes they added in the center of the mosque.

The Muslims used a unique architecture to create a two-story high building that extended in all directions. These slim pillars allowed visitors to see across the entire mosque, which was used as a community center between people being called to prayer. While cathedrals are impressive because they cause you to look up higher than building ever were before, this mosque impresses you because you can look down rows of arches in all directions that extend 590 by 425 feet or only a little less than St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.